Virtual reality (VR) could help patients with anxiety or claustrophobia complete cardiac imaging. A study at UCHealth in Colorado found that 95% of 105 patients using VR during PET/CT scans successfully completed their imaging, while 80% wore the headset throughout the procedure.
Patients could choose calming nature- and travel-themed experiences to distract them from the scanner. More than 75% reported a positive experience.
The low-cost, non-drug approach could also reduce aborted scans, saving healthcare resources. Researchers caution that the study was a quality-improvement project rather than a controlled trial, but the results suggest VR could be a practical way to make cardiac testing more comfortable without affecting image quality.
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-virtual-reality-ease-anxiety-claustrophobia.html
